Monthly Archives: November 2017

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Update: November 30, 2017 – Ashya Symone McKay has been located safe and unharmed.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 2nd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing Pennsylvania woman who was last seen in the North Bethesda area.

Ashya Symone McKay, age 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was last seen by a friend at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29 at a Rock Forest Drive residence. Mckay left that residence driving her silver 2011 Chevrolet Cruz with Pennsylvania tags: JPA 5752. Family and friends have been unable to contact her since that time.

McKay is described as an African American female, approximately 5’ 6” tall and weighs 180 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a brown sweater, black and white leggings, and green and black Nike tennis shoes.

Police and family are concerned for McKay’s physical and emotional welfare.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ashya Symone McKay to call the Montgomery County Police Department’s non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

The decedent has been identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as Harry Ryan Detwiler, age 19, of the 10700 block of Margate Road in Silver Spring.

In September 2017, Detwiler’s family reported him as a missing person to police.

On Sunday, November 12 at approximately 5:15 p.m., a resident notified police that he had been walking his dogs in the woods and located what he believed to be human bones. 4th District officers responded to the area and located a shallow grave that contained skeletal remains.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore conducted an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Detwiler’s death. The autopsy findings are pending.

This is an active and ongoing death investigation. More details will be released as they become available.

Detectives are urging anyone who may have information regarding this death to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.

UPDATE: December 1, 2017 – Shakera Dyson has been located safe and unharmed.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division are asking the public for help in locating a missing Rockville juvenile.

Shakera Dyson, age 15, of the 13000 block of Twinbrook Parkway, was last seen leaving her residence at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29. Shakera Dyson is described as an African American female, approximately 5’ 02” tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, black sweatpants, and black Uggs. Family members believe Shakera Dyson may be in the White Oak area of Silver Spring.

Police and family are concerned for Shakera Dyson’s emotional and physical welfare.

Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Shakera Dyson is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigation Division at 240-773-5400 or the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000 (24 hours).

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a fatal collision that occurred this morning in Wheaton.

On Wednesday, November 29 at approximately 7:46 a.m., 4th District officers and Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the intersection of Connecticut Avenue at Dean Road for the report of a serious collision that had just occurred.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2016 Honda Civic was traveling northbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road. At the same time, a 2009 Nissan Altima was attempting to make a right turn from westbound Dean Road onto northbound Connecticut Avenue. For reasons still under investigation, the two vehicles collided on Connecticut Avenue. After the initial collision between the Civic and the Altima, the Civic crossed the median strip on Connecticut Avenue and struck a 2004 Mazda3 that was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue. The impact of this collision caused the Mazda3 to be pushed into a 2006 Nissan Murano which was stopped behind the Mazda3 and also was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue. The Murano was then struck by a 2012 Toyota Venza that were traveling southbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road.

The driver of the 2016 Honda Civic is being identified as Yonatan Tedros, age 18, of the 2800 block of Harris Drive in Silver Spring. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Tedros succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. A juvenile passenger in the Civic was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the 2009 Nissan Altima is being identified as Stephanie Danielle De Witt, age 30, of the 1400 block of Tollison Drive in Bowie. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the 2006 Nissan Murano is being identified as Analis Cepeda, age 33, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring. She was not injured in the collision.

The driver of the 2004 Mazda3 is being identified as Sakinatu Marie Seisay, age 22, of the 18000 block of Sunhaven Court in Olney. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Mazda3 was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the 2012 Toyota Venza is being identified as Ana Lorena Arevalo Orellana, age 41, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This collision remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed this collision or has information about this collision is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

Within the last two weeks, Financial Crimes detectives have received two cases where residents have fallen victim to what is commonly referred to as the “Grandparent Scam” and have given funds ($5,000 each) to a scammer.

During these two Montgomery County cases, the scammer posed as the victim’s grandchild and stated that he (the “grandchild”) was in jail in another state and needed money from the grandparent to secure a bond appearance. One of the victims was instructed to wire money to a bank account. The other victim received a call from the “grandchild” and then a second call from a scammer posing as the child’s attorney. The “attorney” instructed the victim to go to Best Buy, purchase gift cards, and read the gift cards number to the “attorney” to satisfy payment.

The “Grandparent Scam” is a version of a fraud during which the suspect tells the victim that a family member or friend is in trouble or needs help. Scammers present a variety of emergency situations in these calls, to include a loved one who is in jail, has been in an accident, has been kidnapped, or has been physically hurt. The suspect often states that the event has occurred in another area and that the loved one is unable to talk. To assist in helping the family member or friend, the suspect says that the victim must send money via wire transfer or other fund transfer (ie: pre-paid cards, internet transaction, gift card purchase).

These types of phone scams are not unique to Montgomery County and have been reported in neighboring jurisdictions and around the country.

Please read the following tips on what to do if you receive a telephone call that you believe is a scam:

Do not provide information over the phone. Scammers often ask leading questions to retrieve information from you. Often, you do not realize that you are giving them valuable information. In both of these recent cases, the scammer began the telephone call with, “Hello Grandma” and, “Do you know who this is?”

Scammers create a sense of urgency; they state that they are in distress and need money immediately. Slow down and ask the caller for detailed information and a contact number. Tell the caller you will call them back after you verify information.

Then, attempt to verify the caller’s story by calling family and/or friends. Scammers will often tell the loved one not to tell anyone because he/she is embarrassed about being in the situation.

Remember that scammers often use a technique called “spoofing.” Spoofing provides a fictitious number to a Caller ID display.

Do not send money. Beware of anyone asking you to wire money or buy gift cards and provide them with the cards’ information.

Most importantly, contact police immediately if you believe you are a victim of a telephone scam.